The day after the contenders’ first Senate debate last week, Murphy was hit with news that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had dropped plans to air TV spots for him, directing its spending to states with Senate contests seen as cheaper to buy advertising and more winnable.

DSCC last spring had pledged to spend $10 million helping Murphy — before Rubio announced that he’d seek re-election.

Since then, the DSCC has canceled all its general election advertising for the two-term Jupiter congressman, who has trailed Rubio in every major poll taken in the race.